Not many folk manage to stump a Nobel prize-winning economist and adviser to presidents, governments, the United Nations, the World Bank and Alex Salmond, but the SNP MSP Joan McAlpine managed it yesterday.

Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz, taking an hour out from doing all the above, squeezed in a session by video link with the Scottish Parliament’s economy committee to assist it in determining what might be a good modern alternative to old-fashioned GDP for measuring Scotland’s prosperity.

Ms McAlpine attempted to drive straight to the point, asking: “Could you tell me what your view is on the Legatum Prosperity